Critical parameters near the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition in La0.67–xYxBa0.23Ca0.1MnO3 compounds（x=0.10 and x=0.15）

The critical properties of the mixed manganite La0.67–x Y x Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 with x=0.10 and x=0.15 around the paramagnetic(PM)-ferromagnetic(FM) phase transition were investigated through various techniques. These involved modified Arrott plots, Kouvel-Fisher method and Widom scaling relation. Magnetic data, analyzed in the critical region, using the above methods, yielded the critical exponents for(x=0.10) La0.57Y0.10Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3(β=0.312±0.002 and γ=1.147±0.003 at T C=299.23±0.05 K). Moreover, the estimated critical exponents of(x=0.15) La0.52Y0.15Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 were β=0.286±0.004 and γ=0.943±0.002 at T C=289.53±0.06 K. The critical exponents’ values were close to the theoretical values of 3D-Ising model and tricritical mean-field model. These results suggested that the present composition should be close to a tricritical point in the La0.67–x Y x Ba0.23Ca0.1Mn O3 phase diagram. Expressing the field dependence as ΔS M∝H n allowed us to establish a relationship between the exponent n and the critical exponents of the material and to propose a phenomenological universal curve for the field dependence of ΔS M.     

Hybrid plasmonic label-free multi-analyte refractive index sensor

We propose a label-free refractive index sensor based on hybrid plasmonic resonator which consists of silver split-ring resonator and photonic waveguide. The finite difference time domain evaluation of the design exhibit strong field confinement at the center of the ring and introduces tunable and sensitive notches in the transmission spectrum. The planar tunable architecture which performs well over the range of micro fluid detection, holds the promise of developing multi-analyte label-free biosensors and compactness towards a complete on-chip integrated sensing system. The performance of the proposed refractive index sensor is evaluated by placing different analytes such as saline water and ethanol at the center of the hybrid plasmonic ring which exhibits sensitivity of 847.50 nm.RIU-1 with a figure of merit of 563.25 RIU-1.     

Flexible synthesis of high-purity plasmonic assemblies

The self-assembly of nanoparticles has attracted a vast amount of attention due to the ability of the nanostructure to control light at the sub-wavelength scale,along with consequent strong electromagnetic field enhancement.However,most approaches developed for the formation of discrete assemblies are limited to a single and homogeneous system,and incorporation of larger or asymmetrical nanoparticles into assemblies with high purity remains a key challenge.Here,a simple and versatile approach to assemble nanoparticles of different sizes,shapes,and materials into various discrete homo-or hetero-structures using only two complementary deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)strands is presented.First,surface functionalisation using DNA and alkyl-polyethylene glycol(PEG)enables transformation of as-synthesised nanoparticles into readily usable plasmonic building blocks for self-assembly.Optimisation of the DNA coverage enables the production of different assembly types,such as homo-and hetero-dimers,trimers and tetramers and core-satellite structures,which are produced in high purity using electrophoresis purification.The approach is extended from purely plasmonic structures to incorporate(luminescent)semiconductor nanoparticles for formation of hybrid assemblies.The deposited assemblies form a high yield of specific geometrical arrangements,attributed to the van der Waals attraction between particles.This method will enable the development of new complex colloidal nanoassemblies for biological and optical applications.     

Erratum to: Suspended superconducting weak links from aerosol-synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes

Erratum to Nano Research 2020,13(12):3433-3438 https://doi.org/101007/s12274-020-3032-1 The article“Suspended superconducting weak links from aerosol-synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes"written by Jukka-Pekka Kaikkonen1(■),Abhilash Thanniyil Sebastian3,Patrik Laiho3,Nan Wei3,Marco Will-2,Yongping Liao3,Esko I.Kauppinen3,and Pertti J.Hakonen1,2(■),was originally published Online First without Open Access.     

Influence of low-vacuum helium cold plasma pre-treatment on the rooting and root growth of zoysiagrass (Zoysia Willd.) stolon cuttings

The influence of low-vacuum helium cold plasma treatment on the rooting percentage, root growth and physiochemical properties of zoysiagrass stolon cuttings was studied. Zoysiagrass stolon cuttings were pre-treated with 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 W of cold plasma for 15 s. The cold plasma positively stimulated rooting and improved the root growth of the zoysiagrass stolon cuttings, and the 300 W treatment produced the best effect. The rooting percentage and root growth parameters, including the root length, total root surface area, total root volume, average root diameter, and root dry weight, significantly improved in response to the cold plasma treatment. In addition, the water uptake and relative conductivity of the stolon cuttings increased significantly in response to the cold plasma treatment. The results revealed that cold plasma-stimulated rooting and root growth appear to be a consequence of the improvement in permeability and water absorbing capacity of zoysiagrass stolon cuttings. The results of the present study will provide inspiration and support for the application of cold plasma in the vegetative propagation of plants.     

低温氮、磁化综合处理钻头使用性能提高的X射线和电子显微技术分析研究

在地质钻探和石油钻井中,钻头都是非常重要的钻进工具。其技术特性,特别是硬度和耐磨性与钻探的技术经济指标,即与机械钻速、钻头进尺和每米钻探成本直接相关。为了提高钻头的工作性能,俄罗斯南方国立技术大学提出了综合低温淬火、磁化回火处理钻头的方法。经过综合处理后,钻头体、复合片底座和钎焊层的硬度分别提高了30%、3%和22%。野外钻进试验结果表明,经过低温液态氮和磁化综合处理的与未经综合处理的钻头相比,每次试验钻头进尺都有提高,总体上钻头进尺提高了22.2%,取得了很好的钻进效果。并对取得的效果进行了X射线和显微技术分析。     

Diporphyrin tweezer for multichannel spectroscopic analysis of enantiomeric excess

Chiral 1,1’-binaphthyl-linked diporphyrin ‘tweezers’ (R)-1/(S)-1 and the corresponding zinc(II) complexes (R)-2/(S)-2 were prepared as chiral host molecules, and their utility for chiral analyses (especially enantiomeric excess (ee) determinations) were evaluated. Tris(1-n-dodecyl)porphyrins were used for the first time as the interacting units. Host capabilities of the diporphyrin tweezers were investigated by titrations with (R,R)- and (S,S)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (CHDA). The host molecules could be used as multichannel probes of ee by using UV-vis, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence emission and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) methods. Chiral configurations could also be differentiated using CD or ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. All three optical techniques give good resolution of ee with reasonable sensitivity considering the low concentrations used (ca. 10⁻⁶ mol·L⁻¹). The ee determination of CHDA enantiomers using NMR spectroscopy is also possible because of the reasonably well separated resonances in the case of (R,R)- and (S,S)-CHDA. Non-metallated (R)-1/(S)-1 hosts could not be used to detect chiral information in a strongly acidic chiral guest. This work demonstrates the utility of 1,1’-binapthyl-linked chiral hosts for chiral analysis of ditopically interacting enantiomers.     

Comparison of modeling methods for wind power prediction: a critical study

Prediction of power generation of a wind turbine is crucial, which calls for accurate and reliable models. In this work, six different models have been developed based on wind power equation, concept of power curve, response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN), and the results have been compared. To develop the models based on the concept of power curve, the manufacturer’s power curve, and to develop RSM as well as ANN models, the data collected from supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) of a 1.5 MW turbine have been used. In addition to wind speed, the air density, blade pitch angle, rotor speed and wind direction have been considered as input variables for RSM and ANN models. Proper selection of input variables and capability of ANN to map input-output relationships have resulted in an accurate model for wind power prediction in comparison to other methods.     

Perspective of mixed matrix membranes for carbon capture

Polymeric membrane-based gas separation has found wide applications in industry, such as carbon capture, hydrogen recovery, natural gas sweetening, as well as oxygen enrichment. Commercial gas separation membranes are required to have high gas permeability and selectivity, while being cost-effective to process. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have a composite structure that consists of polymers and fillers, therefore featuring the advantages of both materials. Much effort has been made to improve the gas separation performance of MMMs as well as general membrane properties, such as mechanical strength and thermal stability. This perspective describes potential use of MMMs for carbon capture applications, explores their limitations in fabrication and methods to overcome them, and addresses their performance under industry gas conditions.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of the interaction between OH radicals in plasma with poly-β-1–6-N-acetylglucosamine

Cold atmospheric plasma shows a satisfactory ability to inactivate bacterial biofilms that are difficult to remove using conventional methods in some cases. However, the researches on the inactivation mechanism are not quite sufficient. Poly-β-1–6-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), which is one of the important components in some biofilms, was used as the research subject, and the related mechanism of action triggered by different concentrations of the OH in plasma was studied using reactive molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that OH radicals could not only trigger the hydrogen abstraction reaction leading to cleavage of the PNAG molecular structure, but undergo an OH addition reaction with PNAG molecules. New reaction pathways appeared in the simulations as the OH concentration increased, but the reaction efficiency first increased and then decreased. The simulation study in this paper could, to some extent, help elucidate the microscopic mechanism of the interaction between OH radicals in plasma and bacterial biofilms at the atomic level.